Asia-Pacific High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Assessment of Progress against Commitments in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals

Bangkok, 1-3 November 2011

The Meeting is being organized by ESCAP in cooperation with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, Asia-Pacific Regional Centre), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, Regional Centre for East Asia and the Pacific), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women, East and South-East Asia Regional Office), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, Asia and the Pacific Regional Office) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF, East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office) and the World Health Organization (WHO, Regional Office for the Western Pacific).

The objectives of the Meeting include:

1. To assess regional progress against commitments in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals and efforts to ensure universal access, including follow-up to the outcome of the United Nations General Assembly’s High-level Meeting on AIDS, which was convened from 8 to 10 June 2011;
2. To identify areas for regional cooperation, particularly in addressing policy and legal barriers to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support;
3. To promote multi-sectoral dialogue between health and other sectors, including justice, law and order and drug control.

Invitations have been sent to all seats of governments of ESCAP members and associate members. It is suggested that governments consider including in their national delegations senior officials from the following ministries/agencies:

(a) Justice/public security/law enforcement
(b) Drug control
(c) Health and/or National Commission on AIDS or its equivalent institution
(d) Social welfare/protection.